Electric connector



July 1, 1941. H. H. BOYER I I ELECTRIC CONNECTOR File Aug. 21, 195'! A 'I IIIA 7/1 III/IIII/IIII/I/IIIII! IIIIII/IIA Harold Bye? 1% ATTORNEY Patented Julyl, 1941 ELECTRIC CONNECTOR Harold n. Boyer, Canton, omo, assignor to The Hoover Company, North Canton, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application August 2 1, 1937, Serial No. 160,236

1 Claim.

This invention relates to electric connectors, and an object or the invention is to provide a new and improved device of this character.

Another object of the invention is to provide an electric plug cap adapted to be employed in the bail portion of a suction cleaner handle.

A further object isto provide an electric plug having means for detachably anchoring one end oi a cord strain relief member disposed about an electric cord connected to the plug cap.

Still further objects 0! the invention will be apparent "from the following specification and ac companying drawing, wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the several views- Fig. l is alongitudinal vertical section through the ball of a suction cleaner handle:

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line -2-fi of Fig. i;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section through the handle of a suction cleaner, showing another embodiment or the invention; and

Fig. 4 is an end elevation with parts broken away oi. the electric connector shown in Fig. 3.-

Gne embodiment oi the invention is disclosed in Figs. 1 and 2 and is employed in a suction cleaner, not completely shown, having a hollow handle it detaohably mounted in a split clamping socket it rigidly attached to a bail it provided with bifurcated arms I! which are adapted to be pivoted to the body of the suction cleaner. The split socket M has a pair of ears to which receive a clamp ng screw 26 to rigidly secure the handle in the socket H. The lower end of the handle is provided with an insulated positioning lug 2! which is received in the slot it. formed between the ears E8, to properly position the handle in the socket M. A cover 38 of insulating material is interposed between the socket it and the handle it to insulate the latter.

Removably disposed in the socket I4 is a male plug to comprising a body portion 6! molded in one piece out of electric insulating material, such as Bakelite," and is provided with a longitudinally extending bore 82 terminating at its opposite ends in recesses 63 and 64, the recess ti providing an annular flange 8i and a shoulder as on which is mounted male contacts 8! connected to motor leads 2%: disposed in the opening M. The motor leads 25 extend throush awed slots in the bail and socket and thence along one or the bail arms it to the suction cleaner motor,

not shown. A positioning lug 62 is formed integrally with the plug body BI and is received in the slot l9 to properly position the male contacts 36 in the socket H with respect to the female contacts, not shown, disposed in the lower end or the handle [3 and connected to electrical conductors 28 extending'upwardly through the handle to a source of current supply.

The motor leads 25 are reinforced and protected. by a cord protector 45 formed of spring wire ill ' cord protector in the wound into a helix having a reduced diameter at 46 to receive loosely the motor leads 25, and has its fixed end of increased diameter to constitute in effect a flange ill for anchoring the body of the electric plug 80.

To readily detachably secure the cord protector to the electric plug body 6|, a retaining member 10 is removably secured to the shoulder 89, formed by the recess 53, by means of a screw 1 I. The retaining member to is or electric insulating material and is provided with a bayonet or keyhole type of opening having a large section 72 merging into a smaller section 13,

In order to assemble the electric plug to and the cord protector 45 the latter is passed through the large opening '12 and is then bodily moved laterally into the smaller opening 13 which snugly embraces the reduced portion it, while the enlarged end 41 is disposed in an arcuate slot 15 provided in the plug body 6!. The enlarged end 4'! of the cord protector abuts the retaining member it to prevent longitudinal displacement of the cord 'protector 65 through the reduced opening 13, and the inwardly extending portion 25 of the handle socket it abuts the reduced portion 48 of the cord protector to prevent lateral displacement or the latter from thesmailer opening .73 into the larger opening it of the retaining member it, to thereby anchor the cord proteotorin the electric plug 69.

The handle it is then inserted in the socket it with the positioning lug 2! in the slot i8 to imsure proper registration oi. the male contacts it with the female contacts. The handle it is moved into socket it until the lug 2i clears the opening in the cars it to permit the insertion of the clamping screw it which will rest against the h1g2! preventing longitudinal movement of the male plug, i'emale receptacle and handle in the socket it.

Another embodiment of the invention is shown in Figs. 3 and 4, and comprises an electric plug 8| having a body portion Ii molded in one piece out of electric insulating material, such as "Bakelite, and is provided with recesses 83 and N. Disposed in the recess 63 are the male contacts 26 mounted on the shoulder to. Extending longitudinally through the plug body is an opening mounted on said To assemble the plug I and the cord protector I 45, the retaining member I! is removed and the cord protector is inserted in the arcuate slot 88 until the enlarged end 41 rests on the arcuate shoulder M, the retaining plate It is then secured to the plug cap so that the enlarged end 41 oi. the cord protector 4! is supported by the defining edge 9| oi the recess ll. The plug body 8|, handle I; and female contacts are then properly disposed in the socket ll.

It will be understood that various changes in the size shape and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or the invention or scope of the appended claim.

I claim:

m a device of the character described, a socket. an electric connector in said socket and having a body provided with a bore for an electric cord, a cord protector about said cord and having an enlarged and reduced portion, a shoulder iormed on said cord protector by said enlarged and reduced portions, a retainin member detachably body and having an opening spaced from its marginal periphery and communicating with said bore. said opening being so constructed with respect to said enlarged portion of said cord protector for wall of said opening engages said shoulder to hold said cord protector against longitudinal movement through said opening, and means carried by said socket for abutting said reduced portion to prevent lateral movement of said cord protectorinsaid opening.

HAROLD H. BOYER. 

